Lebanon hopes Iran-U.S. nuclear deal to lead to stability in Mideast

Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri expressed Saturday hope that the Iran-U.S. nuclear agreement reached Thursday would strengthen security and peace in the Middle East, as it is based on national sovereignty and human rights.

According to a press release by his media office, Berri congratulated, in separate cables, the Supreme leader of the Iranian Revolution Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Iran's Speaker Ali Larijani.

Berri hoped that this agreement would "enhance the efforts of confidence building with the neighboring Muslim and Arab world to defuse tension and prevent strife so as not to waste our strength in small and local wars."

He also hoped that the deal would "help the Palestinian people reach their national objectives, end the threats of violence in Lebanon and confront the takfiri terrorism that is targeting the region."

Lebanon failed Thursday for the 22nd consecutive time to convene to elect a new president to replace former president Michel Suleiman whose term ended on May 25, due to lack of the required quorum.

According to the constitution, the government of Tammam Salam is in charge of running the country until a new president is elected. Endit